<< Prev Page    |    1    |    2    |    3    |    4    |    5    |    6    |    7    |    8    |    9    |    10    |    Next Page >> 9 Support to the upper and the politically strong Class They alleged that people of upper castes were protected by the police. (The police were said to have given protection to one Mehta, a BJP leader living in the locality and the team conducting a report in Dharwad did find a police van parked near his house.) In Belgaum, in April 1992, after the stabbing of a youth over a money dispute, caused of riots in the city (as mentioned under settling private scores), the police could have averted these riots if they had arrested the people who had stabbed the man. But, evidently, the police were afraid to act decisively as the culprits were related to a Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) lady corporator, who owed her allegiance to a powerful MES leader. Communal nature of the police In many places, the communal nature of the police was quite evident. From the greater number of Muslims arrested, even in places where they were obviously innocent and were sometimes the victims themselves, it was obvious that the police had often been more vindictive towards them. Even in Dharwad where their behaviour was more or less restrained because the legislators representing Hubli- Dharwad happened to be Muslims, their communal nature was evident with most of the people who were arrested being Muslims. The fact-finding team investigating the January 2000 Chikmangulur riots observed that the police were hand in glove with the Sangh Parivar; it was their decision to take out a procession on January 6, that triggered off the communal violence. It is interesting to note that the police had arrested more than 50 people of whom the majority were Muslims; however not a single member of the Sangh Parivar was arrested. Even though some of the leaders are openly and defiantly moving around, the police has shown no interest to arrest nor to file chargesheets against them. This shows the bias of the police. T he fact-finding team condemns the police bias/atrocities vis-a-vis Muslims and poor Hindus. When the police arrested 23 people from the Basavanhalli slum area, none of them had any criminal records. Many of them were arrested indiscriminately and the houses were raided in the absence of men folk. Women were beaten up and their mangalsutras were taken away. In one particular instance, a girl child's face was wounded with a police rifle bayonet causing a permanent facial disfigurement. The police did not spare small children and even a diabetic patient who suffered from chronic cellulitis. The police deprived the arrested Muslims the right to celebrate Ramzan, which showed their communal bias. In Kolar the government officials and police behaved with communal bias. The Andhra Police deployed in Kolar were seen themselves abusing Muslims in foul language. Police- criminal nexus This was a common accusation at Hubli where a police-criminal nexus was seen to be in operation, and illegal activities like matka and smuggling went unchecked. Relief Camp Many complaints of police not providing assistance to the injured were made, especially in Mysore where the inmates of the relief camp complained of inadequate facilities. Inadequate precautions in sensitive areas For example during the Annamma Devi procession which passed through a masjid in Neelasandra (Bangalore) in February 2003, inadequate police security was the reason for the communal flare-up. Timely action During the 1993 riots in Bhatkal which was spreading to neighbouring villages, it was the timely intervention of the police in Nastara village that prevented further damage to a place of worship, thereby saving lots of besieged people from the gang. Visits of Ministers During the 1993 riots in Bhatkal, which started in April, the Chief Minister, local MP, leader of the Opposition in the Assembly and others visited Bhatkal following the initial riots. The then CM ministers spoke for communal harmony, met riot victims and assured people of an increase of compensation amounts. A gain in 1994 riots in Bhadravati, the Chief Minister, Mr. Veerappa Moily visited the town though he did not talk to affected people Inquiry committees After the Hindu-Sikh Bidar riots of 1988, an official judicial committee was set up under Justice Shyamsunder which was to submit its report in three months. The State government also constitutes two goodwill committees. The first consisted of prominent individuals like Surjit Singh Barnala, Lt Gen Jagdish Arora and I.K.Gujral. The second comprised legislators from Karnataka. Strengthening police forces As a reaction to the 1997riots in Jayanagar, the police decided to strengthen the intelligence network besides providing the police personnel with greater mobility, rubber bullets and protective gear to quell rampaging mobs. It was also stated that there was a need for armed policemen to be equipped with mobiles and wireless sets to move speedily and restore order. Hubli, 1995 Holi riots: The JD govt responded with alacrity to the Hubli developments. Director general of Police was put in charge, and additional forces including 2 companies of the rapid action force. A judicial inquiry was also ordered by the State Government to know what caused the trouble. Hubli, 1994, ID Day: A judicial Inquiry was ordered, but it was yet to start in April, 1995 ( when the Holi riots took place) Innovative Initiatives After the Babri Masjid related riots in Dakshina Kannada in 1992, a communal harmony week was organized by the District Administration with great success. Hundreds of students and politicians took part in a human chain. As part of its crime prevention campaigns, the police have formed Citizen’s Committees in Kolar and Taluk centres like Chikballapur, Bagepalli, Chinthamani, Mulbagal and Malur. A state-level body, the Komu Souharda Vedike (forum for communal harmony) was formed in 1993 bringing together various organization to work together. The ‘Campaign for National Unity, Karnataka State’ sponsored at the all-India level by 13 non-Congress, non-BJP parties. The Dalit Sangarsha Samiti is active with its large and well-knit organization.    << Prev Page    |    1    |    2    |    3    |    4    |    5    |    6    |    7    |    8    |    9    |    10    |    Next Page >>